The prestigious 2011 Léonie Sonning Music Prize will be awarded to Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho. Since its inception in 1959, the Léonie Sonning Music Prize has established itself as a paramount event in Danish music life. The prize is awarded annually to an internationally acknowledged composer, musician, conductor or singer.

Saariaho will be presented with the award at a concert on May 5, 2011 at the DR Concert Hall in Copenhagen, with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Storgårds. In addition, a Saariaho concert will be held on May 4, 2010 at The Black Diamond in Copenhagen, with the Athelas Sinfonietta Copenhagen conducted by Pierre André Valade.

Saariaho is the eleventh composer who has been awarded the Léonie Sonning Music Prize – and the second female composer. Previous laureate composers include Stravinsky, Lutoslawski, Britten, Sjostakovitj, Messiaen, Boulez, Ligeti, Nørgård, Gubaidulina, Kurtág and Arvo Pärt. Saariaho has received several honors and prizes for her music: in 2000 Saariaho received the Nordic Council Music Prize for the work Lonh; in 2003, she received one of the most coveted composition awards in the world, the American Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition; also the Prix Italia, Musical America Composer of the year 2008.

On receiving the award, Kaija Saariaho states:

I am very happy to receive the Sonning Music Prize, and honored to follow those prestigious predecessors. I am especially glad that this honour comes from a Nordic country, as I feel that my music is not there as much - except in Finland – compared to other European countries or North America.